WEBVTT

NOTE
Exact first-edition text; paragraph-timed synthetic narration; performance not human listening certified.

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Chapter Eight — The Door

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Near midnight, the visitor picked up her suitcase.

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“I should go.”

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The House looked at the shelf.

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Some of the objects remained.

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Some had been returned to the suitcase.

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The music box sat beside the piano.

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“Will you come back?” the House asked.

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“Maybe.”

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“Should I keep a room ready?”

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The visitor looked toward the shelf.

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“You already have.”

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She walked to the front door.

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The House wanted to ask who she was.

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Where she'd come from.

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Whether she had been sent by someone.

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Whether the button had called her.

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Whether the piano had known she was coming.

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It had so many questions.

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Instead, it opened the door.

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“Goodnight,” said the visitor.

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“Goodnight,” said the House.

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And she left.

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The House watched the empty hallway.

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It was tempted to begin an investigation.

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It resisted.

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Somewhere inside, the music box played three notes.

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The piano answered.

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And the House understood that not knowing where something came from did not prevent it from appreciating what happened while it was here.